Chiefs Prospects 2022-3

Tribe Rocks Again!

Football is right around the corner.  As usual, the prelude is the release of the 53 man roster for the tribe’s assault on yet another division title and Super Bowl.

Time to look at who is in and who is not.

Offence

QB’s   Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne, Shane Buechele

Buechele is the sleeper here.  The Chiefs usually only keep two QB’s but they are keeping three this season: they really like Buechele!  Question is, is it not then time to let Henne go?  Maybe!

Running Backs:  CEH, Jerick McKinnon, Isiah Pacheco, Ronald Jones.

Pacheco is the real surprise here: is he really that good? Our fingers are crossed for a real steal!

Full Back:  Michael Burton

Big Red loves a full back and Burton is the man!  Why?  They like a lead blocker on some running plays and he catches the ball when asked to. Nuff said?

Wide Receivers:  Juju, MVS, Hardman, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson

Is five enough as both Juju and MVS have had real injury concerns in the past?  Look for Hardman and Moore to have real big seasons!

Tight Ends:  Kelce, Fortson, Gray, Blake Bell

I see the Chiefs playing a lot of three tight-end sets in an effort to get the running game going – especially early in the season.  Bell starts the season on IR.  Fortson may be the player of the season!

O-line:  Brown, Thuney, Humphrey, Smith, Wylie (that’s the starters left to right) Christian, Allegretti Prince Tega, Kinnard are the back-ups.

Is there enough depth? Is Wylie a good enough right tackle? If this bunch can generate a run game and protect Mahomes then Chiefs will again be a real force in the AFC.

Defence

Tackles:  Jones, Nnadi, Wharton, Saunders

Thin, but if they stay healthy they can be a real rock to build on.

Ends:  Clark, Karlaftis, Dunlap, Danna

Chiefs are putting the rookie in a tough spot!  How well will he hold up?

Line-backers:  Bolton, Gay, Elijah Lee, Chenal

Problems! Problems!  Is this group good enough?  I doubt it!

Cornerbacks:  Sneed, Fenton, McDuffie (rookie) Williams, Watson and Lammons

I think this will be the Chiefs Achilles heel on defence.

Safeties:  Thornhill, Reid, Bryan Cook,  Deon Bush

Three specialists: Buttkicker, Townsend, and Winchester.

In addition, 14 players have been signed to the practice squad.

Summing up: the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl window and despite trading Hill to the Dolphins are well-equipped to mount another challenge.  The AFC West competition will be better: Chargers look better, Raider may surprise a few folks, and the Broncos are the Broncos despite getting Russel Wilson to take the snaps.  I still expect the Chiefs to take care of business in the West.  But, I’m not as confident as I was last year!

Why? Simple. Defence!  You may remember we had the Bengals on the ropes last year and the defence could not finish the job!  Will this bunch be much better?  I’m just not convinced!

And the rest of the AFC West has loaded up.  The Chargers will be better the Raider will be better and the vibes coming from Denver are positive.  The Chief’s stroll through the West may not be as easy as it had been.  However, what doesn’t kill you often makes you stronger!